Continued global warming is polluting the atmosphere and causing increasingly intense heatwaves. In this respect says In a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
According to WMO experts, extreme heat is fueling uncontrollable fires and the smoke is making the air unsafe for millions of people to breathe. Due to the drought, a large amount of sandy dust from the deserts enters the atmosphere.
“Bushfire smoke contains a mixture of chemicals that not only affect air quality and health, but also harm plants, ecosystems and crops, leading to more carbon dioxide emissions and therefore more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.” – said the author. study, Dr. Lorenzo Labrador.
In addition, high temperatures contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone fumes, which are harmful to humans, animals and plants. Together, these factors threaten not only public health but also food security.
Globally, crop loss in staple foods due to ozone exposure averages 4.4-12.4%, with wheat and soybeans reaching 15-30% in key agricultural areas in India and China.
Scientists stressed that together with air pollution, heat poses the greatest risk for residents of big cities. Tall buildings cause the “heat island” effect by affecting the nature of the wind and the average ambient temperature. For this reason, the weather in mega cities can be 9°C warmer than outside the city. This means that the morbidity and mortality rates of the urban population will continue to increase under the influence of climatic factors.
WMO Secretary-General Professor Petteri Taalas said the organization’s experts expect the climate and weather conditions to worsen as they recorded the hottest summer on record in 2023. Wildfires in Canada, the United States, and the Mediterranean region engulfed large areas, and smoke from burning trees reached the Arctic.
ancient scientists to solveHe said wildfire smoke can cause long-term inflammation in the brain. The effect of inhaling ash and soot particles lasts for about a month and reduces one’s mental abilities.